In 2006, the Scary Movie franchise returned for a fourth time with the same parody formula, but with newer and fresher film targets. Directed again by David Zucker, Scary Movie 4 cleverly combines two completely unrelated major plots from the blockbuster films of its time: the supernatural horror of The Grudge and the epic alien invasion of War of the Worlds.

The Funny and Absurd Story

As usual, the story follows Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris), who is now working as a nurse in a haunted house inhabited by the ghost of a little boy. Meanwhile, her neighbor, Tom Ryan (Craig Bierko), a single father, must face a sudden alien invasion that threatens the entire world. The two plots are linked in a ridiculous way, where the clue to defeating the aliens turns out to be hidden within the mystery of the haunted house.

Besides parodying those two main films, Scary Movie 4 also takes on other films with its crazy humor, such as:

• Saw: The opening scene features a disgusting parody of Saw's deadly games, but in a very absurd way.

• The Village: Cindy's adventures take her to a remote village with a silly secret, mimicking the plot of that thriller film.

• Million Dollar Baby and Brokeback Mountain: Even Oscar-winning drama films aren't safe from Scary Movie's joke.

Returning Old Actors, New Actors Appear

Returning cast members like Anna Faris as Cindy Campbell and Regina Hall as Brenda Meeks once again bring their iconic characters. Leslie Nielsen also appears again as President Harris, with his antics getting even more ridiculous. In addition, the film introduces new faces like Craig Bierko, who does a very good imitation of Tom Cruise in the War of the Worlds parody.

Not Just a Parody

Although critics gave mixed reviews, Scary Movie 4 was still a box office success. The film is proof that parodies remain a form of entertainment people look forward to, especially for those who enjoy seeing serious films deconstructed and laughed at. For the audience, this film is light and fun entertainment, as well as a reminder of how popular horror and sci-fi films were in the 2000s.

Released: 2006

Genre: Comedy

Casts: Anthony Anderson, Molly Shannon, Craig Bierko

Duration: 83min

Country: United States

Director: David Zucker

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